Today's Opinions

Forgive me if I’m being presumptuous, but I just can’t help feeling part of this town’s historical identity, and I’m here to say that Las Vegas is a great place to celebrate the Fourth of July.

You want patriotism? We’ve got it in droves. Las Vegas has always provided more than its fair share of fighters of our wars, believers in our causes, and doers for our ideals. We’ve got veterans and peaceniks, each of them standing for what they love about our country, sometimes standing as one and the same.

A trip of a lifetime for Valley Middle School, West Las Vegas Middle School and High School students was made possible by numerous supporters. The students traveled to our nation’s capital Washington D.C. in May. They attended the Business Professionals of America National Conference for nearly a week. At the conference, the students’ excelled in their respective BPA events and came home with numerous awards. The West Las Vegas Middle School placed second in the nation in a field of 180 schools.

THUMBS UP! FIESTAS! It starts tonight, with the Mass and reinas coronation, then tomorrow begin three full days of music, dance, fun and games. It’s time for Las Vegas’ 123rd fiestas!

Here are some suggestions on what not to miss:

• The music. All day, for three days, until Plaza Park closes Monday afternoon. Headliners this year include Gonzalo and Jerry Dean on Saturday, Al Hurricane and Sorela on Sunday; and El Gringo and Darren Cordova y Calor on Monday.

A recent Optic article has left me with questions. It concerns a local mother and her 2-year-old and 8-month-old children who were separated from her while traveling from Portugal. She has been detained in Tennessee and her children were taken from the safety of their mother in what appears a very unprofessional and scary manner.

As a father, I understand completely why Rebecca Montoya had to flee to protect her children. As a parent if you don’t protect your children, who will? In my opinion, custody should have never been granted to Tomas Lucero just because he is a state police officer.

I recall growing up where culture, traditions and faith worked hand in hand. Most of the people in the Mora Valley back in the ‘30s and ‘40s made their living off their crops.
They had what they called the dry years, and the wet years. During the dry years people would take the statue of St. Isidore and parade him through the fields and the people would be blessed with rain.